Chapter 3.

Rational Expressions
Algebraic Fraction expressions. Ex.
3 4

an expression expressed as quotient of two algebraic

x 2 2 x 4x + 4

3 2x 2
3

3x

Rational Expression - an algebraic fraction whose numerator & denominator are both polynomials. 2x 2 b 3 + 2b 2 3b +1 4 x 2 4 x +1 Ex. 3x y , , , a +b 2 x 1 4b 2 2b +1 Properties of Fraction Value of a fraction over a set of real numbers R;
1.

a = q a = bq , b 0 b a =q ; In b

2.

a 1 = a , b 0 b b

i ) if a = 0 , b R , b 0 , then q = 0 ii ) if a R a 0, b = 0 , then q is undefined iii ) if a = 0 & b = 0 , , then q is an in det er min ate form

Ex.

25 = undefined 0

0 =0 , 25

0 = in det er min ate form , 0

Fundamental Principle of Fraction 1. The value of a fraction does not change if the numerator & denominator are both multiplied and divided by the same number. In symbols;
a a m = b bm a a m = , m 0 b b m 20 20 5 4 = = 10 10 5 2

Ex.

4 4 3 12 = = 5 5 3 15

2. 3 signs are associated with a fraction, the sign of the numerator, sign of the denominator & the sign of the fraction itself. In symbols; a a a a = = = b b b b Equivalent Fraction

2 fractions are said to be equivalent if they represent the same numeral. In symbols;
a c = ad = bc , b, d 0 b d

1 6 Ex. 1. Is 4 18 6 ? ______ 3. Are

equivalent to

32 8 ? _____

15 2. Is 3 equivalent to

3 3 3 3 , , , 5 5 5 5 equivalent fractions? ______

Reduction of Fraction to Lowest Terms To avoid dealing with complicated rational expressions, it is necessary that we know how to reduce fractions to its lowest terms. All types of factoring and the cancellation law are very helpful and important in reducing fraction to its lowest terms.

Cancellation Law

The cancellation law is the process of taking out common factor to both numerator and denominator.

Procedure: To reduce a fraction to its lowest terms, we find first the highest common factor (hcf) i.e., the highest exact divisor of the number or both the numerator & denominator and then apply the cancellation law.

Example: Find the HCF of each of the following:

1. 5,10,15,20 ___________

2. x y , x 2 y 2 , x 2 2 xy + y 2 , x 3 y 3 3. 2 x , 6 x y , 8 xy
2 2

____________

_____________

Examples: Reduce the following to lowest terms or simplify the following rational expressions:
x 2 + 2 xy 3 y 2 x3 y3 4x 2 y 2 2 x 2 xy

1.

75 125

2.

3.

x 3 125 4. 25 x 2 a 2 + ab 42b 2 a 2 + 3a 28b 2

5.

x +3 ( 2 x + 7 ) x +3

(8ab + 4b 2 ) 2 6. 8a 3 b + b 4

7.

8.

a 2 n +1 a 2 n y a n +3 a n y 3

Operations on Rational Expressions

LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM)

The LCM of 2 or more numbers is the smallest of their common multiples.

Examples: Find the LCM of :

1. 2,4,9 & 12

2. 3a ( x y ), 6a 2 ( x 2 y 2 ) , 9a 3 ( x 3 y 3 )

LEAST COMMON DENOMINATOR (LCD)

The LCD of 2 or more fractions is the LCM of the denominators in the set.

Examples: Find the LCD of:

1.

2 4 7 1 , , , 5 15 30 10

2.

1 3 4 , , 2 2 x 6( x y ) 8( x y 2 )

ADDITION/SUBTRACTION OF FRACTIONS

If a,b,c,d are real numbers, then

a b a +b + = ,c 0 c c c a c ad + bc + = , b, d 0 b d bd

a b a b = ,c 0 c c c

a c ad bc = , b, d 0 b d bd

Examples: Perform the indicated operations & simplify:

3 15 9 1 + + 4 4 4 4 x x 2 2 + 6 15 4

1.

6.

2.

1 3 4 7 + 5 2 3 6

7.

2b +1 3b 1 2b 1 3b +1

3.

3( x + 5) 4(2 x 2) 6 + 2 2 2 x +4 x +4 x +4
4y 3x 3 x 2 y 2 y 3 x

8.

2 x +1 3x + 2 2 2 6 x + x 2 3x + 5x + 2
xy 2 y 2 3 3 x y x + y 2 + xy

4.

9.

5.
10 .
2

2x + y 3x y 5x + y + 2 2 2 2 2 x xy y 3 x + 2 xy y 5 x 4 xy y 2

4 x 1 +3 2 x x 5x

MULTIPLICATION/DIVISION OF FRACTIONS

If a,b,c,d are real numbers, then

a c ac = , b, d 0 b d bd

a b = a d = ad , b, c 0 c b c bc d

Examples: Perform the indicated operations & simplify: 16 90 150 56

3( x 1) 12 ( x +3) 4( x +3) 9( x 1)

1.

6.

2.

x 2 y 2 xy 2 y 2 xy 3 2 2 xy x y x xy 2 y 2

7.

4 8 8 18

3.

xy xz + y 2 yz 2 yz z 2 x2 y yz xz xy 2 xy xz 2 y 2 + yz

3a 6b a 2 4b 2 2 9a 2 b 2 3a + 2ab b 2

4.

2a 2 7 a + 6 2a 2 3a 2 4a 2 + 27 a 7 6a 21a + 18
3x + y x 2 yz y 3 9 yz 2 2 yz xy 3 xz 3 x + y 2 yz + 6 z 2

9.

( x + 2)( x + 4) + 1 ( x + 3) 2 ( x 1)( x 3) + 1 ( x 2) 2

5.

10 .

4 x 2 +12 x + 9 2x 2 x 6 2 x 2 +13 x +15 2 3 x 2 +17 x 28 3 x +16 x 20 3 x 2 + 22 x + 7

COMPLEX FRACTIONS
-

fractions having 1 or more fractions in either or both of its terms.

Examples: Simplify:

2 5 1. 3 2 1 1 + 4 6

a 3. a b b 1+ a b

2. 2

3 1 3 2 5
4. x

x2 x 1 x

1 5.

3 2 + b b2 1 2 b b2
7

8.

x 1

1 8 x 3 + 2 x 2 + 4 x 3

6.

x3 y 3 x 3 y 3

x 2 3x 2x 2 +1 2 2 9. x + 2 x + 10 x 2 x 15 2 1 2 2 2 x + 9 x 5 x + 2 x 15

7. ( a 1 + y 1 ) 1

10 .

x+2 x+3 + x2 x+4 x 2 + 3 x 21 2 2 x + 2x 8